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Commentaries
COMMENTARY
Don Atkin
DON’T DRINK THE BATHWATER!
I am very concerned about the way that so many are selling out basic character issues in responding to Hollywood and Madison Avenue hype. People are being drawn into cults, even the occult, by signs of the supernatural and/or by hero worship. Our pursuit of anything other than Christ and His kingdom is idolatrous.Thankfully, there are ways
to test the spirits. We can become
fruit inspectors. In doing so, we
need criteria for judging fruit. Remember
that it was Eve’s perception that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to
the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise. Now, after thousands of years, human nature
is still responding on the same level. Go figure!
Jesus Christ, not only demonstrated
the higher ways of God, but also has come to will and to do from residency within
us. It was common for Him to instruct
a healed person to “Tell no one.” He
clearly avoided fame and notoriety. He understood that His kingdom does not come by observation.
His fruit includes: kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control.
Inconsistent with this good fruit are uncleanness, idolatry, sorcery, selfish ambitions,
heresies and revelries, which are works of the flesh.
Paul affirmed the church in
Corinth as being set apart and beloved.
He also brought correction and explanation to encourage them to grow beyond
their carnality. They were long on
spiritual gifts and short on spiritual fruit. Paul had to detail how love works with
words such as:
Love is
kind, does not parade itself, is not puffed up, and does not behave rudely.
We have reason for concern
when ministry is not gentle and kind, when ministry parades itself and is puffed
up, when ministry behaves rudely. We
also have reason for concern when multitudes become followers of a man or woman.
We have a great need for wisdom
from above if we are to adequately present and represent the kingdom.
This wisdom is available for the asking to those who do not doubt.
The wisdom that is from above
is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield (easy to be entreated),
full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Wisdom
demands that we discern by the Spirit. Stop
for a moment and think. Pray!
Don’t
throw the baby out with the bathwater.
But, don’t
drink the bathwater!
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